Fishing reel



July 31, so 2,380,671

FISHING REEL Filed March' 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

JVOZJZFJ Jun/swam July 31, 1945. N NELSON 2,380,671

FISHING REEL Filed March 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .14 80 Z4 M w lllllll llllllll k0 INVENTOR. JYabZa (LA 615072,

Patented July 31, 1945 asses-:1

risnnsa nan.

Noble A. Nelson. Chicago, Ill, assignor of one-fifth to Harold Freevol, one-fifth to 8am Bmedbesg, one-fifth to- Howard Brandon, and one-fifth to Carl E. Anderson Application March 25, 1944, Serial No. 528,100

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to fishing reels. and more particularly to improvements in such reels as shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 499,602. filed August 23, 1943.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide novel means in a reel structure provided with a line conveyor which will free the line between the cooperating rolls of the line conveyor during a retrieving operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide mechanism in a reel assembly having a line conveyor for releasing the line between the rolls of said line conveyor during a retrieving operation and which mechanism is controlled by the operating mechanism for the spool.

The present invention is predicated primarily upon a novel reel mechanism which embodies a line conveyor in combination with a spool which is entirely free from operative relation withits operating mechanism during a casting operation and. accordingly. the present invention has as a further object the idea of providing means controlled and actuated by such spool operating mechanism for moving one of the rolls of the conveyor with respect to the other to release the line during a retrieving operation when the operating mechanism for the spool is operatively engazed therewith.

In its more particular aspects the invention contemplates the provision of a pivotally mounted idler roll normally spring pressed into cooperative engagement with the driving roll of the conveyor and which has means associated therewith and operable to move the idler roll to release the line when the operating mechanism for the spool is engaged therewith for retrieving the line, the said mechanism including means for moving the idler roll into cooperative relation with the drivin; roll upon disengagemint with the operating mechanism for the spool.

Other objects. features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a view psrtly'in section and partly in plan of a fishing reel made in accordance with the present invention:

Figure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the reel shown in Figure l of the drawings;

Figure 3 is a view partly in in elevation taken in the plane represented by line 8-4 of Figure 1 of the drawings: and

Figure 4 is an exploded view of certain of the section and partly operating parts for the spool operating mechanism Referring now more in detail to the drawings. a reel embodying the improvements according to the present invention is represented generally by the reference numeral 2 and which reel is formed as an element in an assembly which further includes a handle 4 and a ferrule 6 adapted to receive the end oi. a casting rod which is socketed therein. More particularly, the said reel embodies a frame generally referred to as I and having the side plate elements It and i2 and the end walls is and it in which the handle and ferrule are respectively mounted. The said reel is further constituted by a spool is fitting within the frame members it and i2 and which is provided with the spindle fl journaled as at It and 2,8, respectively, in the bearing or housing elements 28 and 80. The spool ll is adapted to receive line used in fishing, to store the same, and to facilitate the paying out and retrieving of the same during a casting operation.

As is well known at the present time, conventional fishing reels are subject to certain objections, one being the fact that because of overrun of the spool during the casting operation the line becomes snarled and entangled, causing considerable diillculty to the user in straightening the line to permit further casting therewith.

The present reel assembly includes improved mechanism to prevent overrunning of the spool and, accordingly, such mechanism acts to completely avoid back-lash of the line on the spool during the casting operation. Such means is constituted by a line conveyor, generally referred to as 32, including a roll 14 mounted upon a shaft It disposed transversely of the reel and being Journaled as at a in the side plate iii and as at ll in the housing 42 connected to the side plate If. Mounted upon the end of the shaft ll adiacent the side plate I! is a pinion gear 44 meshing with the gear 4| mounted upon shaft 40 which is mounted as at in plate I! and as at It in side plate It and which constitutes the drive for a level winding mechanism generally referred to as It. The gear It is in meshing relation with pinion it mounted upon the end of spindle 22 so as to complete a driving connection between the spool II and the roll It when the spool is operated by mechanism to be hereinafter more fully described.

The driving connection immediately hereinabove described is enclosed within a housing I having openings for the bearings II and 4| which are enclosed by way of the caps I and I! for in slot 69 of housing elements ll forming a part x of a frame securedto the shaft III which is pivotally mounted in the side plates I0 and I2.

The roll 66 is spring pressed into operative rela-' tion with the roll 34 by means of springs 13 mounted in the housings ii and engaging the ends of shaft 61. The frame 68 is provided with abutment shoulders. such as 12, engageable with similar shoulders on the frame I6 connected to the end wall I6 adjacent the driving roll 34 to hold the idler roll 58 in driving relation to the driving roll 34. Frame 18, as well as the frame 88, is formed-with line guide openings, such as 18, for receiving the fishing line in substantially a straight line from the spool I8 to assure proper paying out and retrieving of the fishing line during a casting operation.

While the invention is not limited in respect to the specific diameters of the rolls 34 and B6, or the ratio between the said diameters, nevertheless it has been found that efficient results can be secured by making the diameter of the roll 84 substantially equal to the diameter of a full line spool. That is to say, the diameter of the roll 24 is equal substantially to the diameter ofa normal amount of line wound upon the spool II for normal fishing undertakings. The roll 88 need not be of any particular diameter and any diameter may be selected which will give the desired results. As will be clearly 'apparent. under full line spool conditions the lineal speed of the rolls 34 and 66 is substantially equal to the lineal speed of the line on the spool II. During the paying out of line in a castin operation, the line diameter upon the spool Ii decreases and since the pinions 44 and have equal pitch diameters, the lineal speed of the line through the line conveyor is at all times substantially-the'same or greater than the lineal speed of the line leaving the spool I8. This condition is desirable in order to maintain the line between the line conveyor and the spool taut under such circumstances. thus rendering it impossible to secure back-lash conditions with the resulting entanglement of the line on the spool ll.

As hereinabove described, the present invention contemplates operating mechanism for the spool which is normally disengaged from the said spool during paying out of the fishing line, but which is engageable therewith for retrieving line during the completion of a casting operation. such mechanism is shown as comprising a stub shaft 40 connected to the plate 42 se-' cured to the side frame member I0 and which stub shaft has gear 44 mounted thereon. This gear 44 has the threaded extension 86 which embraces the shaft l0 and is held in place by the screw II. The extension 86 is provided with a non-circular shoulder part I adapted to receive the handle Iii for rotating the gear. The handle 80 is secured to the sleeve extension I! through the medium of the cap screw 02. The gear I4 is adapted to mesh with a pinion I4 rotstably and slidably mounted upon the end of the spindle shaft 20 and which pinion is formed integral with a clutch element ll. The clutch element II is formed with teeth on its inner face adapted to mesh with similar teeth on the face of a clutch element 88 connected to the spool I8, thus providing for a driving connection between the handle 90 and the spool I8.

The operating mechanism is so constructed and arranged that the clutch element 96 engages the clutch element 98 upon application of pressure to the handle 90 and to automatically become disengaged therefrom upon release of pressure on the handle 90. This operation is effected through the provision of a leaf spring Iilii bifurcated to provide the arms I02 and IDQ at -one end which straddle the shaft 80 and are is bifurcated to form the arms I08 adapted to enter into the slot IIfi provided between the pinion 9d and the clutch element 96 and to embrace the intermediate hub formed therebetween, the said spring being constructed and so mounted on the plate 82 as to normally urge the clutch element 96 out of engagement with the clutch element 98. Accordingly, during a casting operation the spool operating mechanism is wholly disengaged from the spool It so as to provide a free running spool during the paying out of line from the reel.

However, upon initiating a retrieving operation the spring IIliI is moved inwardly to effect an engagement between clutch elements 96 and V 98 whereby the spool I8 may be rotated to retrieve the line. The mechanism herein disclosed for effecting this movement of the spring I00 is incorporated within the recess II2 formed in the face of gear 84, all as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The said mechanism comprises a disk II I formed with a'cam IIS and a lug II8 projecting from one face thereof adjacent its periphery, which disk H4 is formed with an opening I20 fitting over thehub I22 projecting into the recess II2. Likewise, mounted over the hub I22 is a spider-like spring washer I24 engaging the face of the disk H4. The disk H4 and spring washer I24 are held in assembled relation to gear 84 by the spun end I28 of the hub I22. The disk II4 frictionally engages the end wall of the recess II2 so that in any position of the disk II4 the gear 84 is free to rotate to operate the pinion 94 and in turn the spool I8.

As hereinbefore suggested, the lineal speed of the rolls 24 and 86 is equal to or greater than the lineal speed of the line being paid out from the spool Il during a casting operation. It will be further apparent that when the line is being retrieved, constant engagement of the rolls I4 and 88 would cause the line to be fed to the spool I! at a greater rate than it could be wrapped or wound upon the spool. This would be due to the greater lineal speed of the rolls 24 and 46 over the lineal speed of the line wound upon the spool I8 and would cause slack line to appear between the spool and the line conveyor if some provision were not made to correct such action. The present assembly is particularly characterized by certain novel features of construction which prevent this condito be moved relative to the driving roll 34 to completely disengage the line therefrom during a retrieving operation. In order to move the idler roll about its pivot point, a cam lever I30 is mounted on the inner end of the shaft 10 extending through the frame member III. This cam lever is provided with the extension III engaged by one end of a spring I32 which extends about the abutment screw I33 and has its other end engaging the abutment screw I45. Thus the spring I32 tends to rotate shaft I! in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2 to maintain rolls 34 and 66 in frictional engagement with the line. The lever arm I30 extends in the direction of the operating mechanism for the spool and terminates in line of movement of the lug N8 of the disk II4 which lug extends within the recess I38 provided in the plate 82 and which opening is adapted to .limit the movement of said disk II 4 during its normal reciprocal movement. However, the said lug H6 is adapted to engage the cam surface I40 provided on the lever arm 530 when disk H4 is rotated to cause a depression of spring I through the medium of the cam H6 so that arm I30 is moved counter-clockwise to rotate frame 68 and the roll 66 as the clutch element 96 is moved into engagement with the clutch element 98. The idler 66 is, accordingly, moved away from the driving roll M to completely release the line during a retrieving operation so that there is no possibility of the line being loosely wound upon the spool I8 due to the over-driving'relation of the conveyor rolls with respect to the spool upon a retrieving operation.

Upon release of the handle 9b the cam H6 is moved through the medium of spring I32. lever arm I36 and lug N8 of disk lid to release spring I60 to cause disengagement of the clutch elements 96 and 98 and at the same time to permit clockwise movement of arm 53a to return the idler roll 86 to its normal frictional engagement with the line.

It is therefore clearly apparent that frictional engagement of the rolls 34 and $6 with the line is maintained when clutch elements 96 and 98 are disengaged and line is being paid out from the reel under free spool conditions, but that when the clutch elements 95 and 98 are interengaged during a retrieving operation, idler roll 65 becomes released from its frictional engagement with the line to permit the line to be retrieved onto spool I8 without fear that the same will become snarled or otherwise loosely wound on the spool, In passing, it may be stated that sufficient drag is usuallyapplied to the line through the plug or fish to cause the line to be taut for retrieving onto the spool I8.

The operating mechanism for the spool, as

'well as the idler roll, is adapted to be enclosed Within a housing I38 having a central hub I42 embracing the extension 86 of gear 84. The bearing 24 extends through a suitable opening in the housing I38 and is enclosed by cap screw I44 which also holds housing I 38 in rigid position with respect to the reel frame.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of a spool operatively mounted for rotation in said frame, a. line conveyor comprising opposed rolls spaced from said spool and adapted to frictionally grip line from said spool, a driving connection between said spool and'one of said rolls, the other of said rolls constituting an idler movable with respect to said driven roll, operating mechanism for said spool, and means controlled by said operating mechanism for moving said idler roll with respect to said driven roll to release 'said frictional engagement of said line during the retrieving of said line onto said spool.

3. In a fishing reel, the combination of a frame,

- a spool operatively mounted for rotation in said frame. a line conveyor comprising opposed rolls spaced from said spool and adapted to frictionally grip line from said spool. a driving connection between said spool and at least one of said rolls, operating mechanism for said spool including a clutch normally disengaged from said spool during a casting operation and normally engaged during the retrieving of line onto said spool, and means operable in accordance with the operation of said operating mechanism to move one of said rolls with respect to the other to release said frictional engagement of said line during the retrieving of said line onto said spool and to return said roll to its normal line engaging posi-' tion during a casting operation.

4. In a fishing reel, the combination of a frame, a spool operatively mounted for rotation in said frame, a line conveyor comprising opposed rolls spaced from said spool and adapted to frictionally grip line from said spool, a driving connection between said spool and at least one of said rolls. operating mechanism for said spool including a clutch normally disengaged from said spool during a casting operation and normally engaged during the retrieving of line onto said spool, and means operable in accordance with the operation of said operating mechanism to disengage said rolls upon engagement of said clutch and to return said line engaging relation of said rolls upon disengagement of said clutch.

5. In a fishing reel, the combination of a frame, a spool operatively mounted for rotation in said frame. a line conveyor comprising opposed rolls spaced from said spool and adapted to frictionally grip line from said spool. a driving connection between said spool and one of said rolls, the other of said rolls constituting an idler movable with respect to said driven roll, operating mechanism for said spool including a clutch normally disengaged from said spool during a casting operation and normally engaged during the retrieving of line onto said spool, and means operable in accordance with the operation of said operating mechanism to move said idler roll out of driving frictional engagement with said line upon engagement of said clutchand to return said idler roll to its line engaging position with reabout its pivot to release said frictional en age.

ment of said line during the retrieving or said line onto said spool.

7. In a fishing reel. the combination of a frame, a spool operatively mounted for rotation in said frame, a line conveyor comprising opposed rolls spaced from said spool and adapted to frictionally grip line from said spool, a driving connection between said spool and one of said rolls, the other of said rolls constituting an idler movably mounted with respect to said driven roll, operating mechanism for said spool including a spring actuated clutch mechanism for normally disengaging said spool from said operating mechanism, means for actuating said clutch mechanism, spring controlled means for normally holding said idler roll in frictional line gripping relation to said driven roll when said clutch is disengaged, and means interconnecting said control means and actuating means to move said idler roll to release said line when said clutch is engaged.

8. In a fishing reel, the combination of a frame, a spool operatively mounted for rotation in said frame and having a clutch element. a line conveyor comprising opposed rolls spaced from said spool and adapted to frictionally grip line from said spool, a driving connection between said spool and one of said rolls, the other of said rolls constituting an idler pivotally mounted with respect to said driven roll, operating mechanism for said spool including a spring actuated clutch element normally held in disengaged relation to said first named clutch element, said operating means including frictional clutch actuating means, and means interconnecting said clutch actuating means and said pivotal mounting for said idler roll for moving said idler roll to release said line when said clutch is engaged.

9. In a fishing reel, the combination of a frame. a spool operatively mounted for rotation in said frame and having a clutch element, a line conveyor comprising opposed rolls spaced from said spool and adapted to frictionally grip line from said spool, a driving connection between said spool and one of said rolls, the other of said rolls constituting an idler pivotally mounted with respect to said driven roll, operating mechanism for said spool including a spring actuated clutch element normally held in disengaged relation to said first named clutch element, said operating means including cam means for actuating said clutch, spring controlled lever operating means for rotating said pivotal mounting for said idler roll, and means operable in accordance with said cam means for operating said lever means to move said idler roll to release said line when said clutch is engaged.

10. In a fishing reel, the combination of a frame, a spool operatively mounted for rotation in said frame, a line conveyor comprising opposed rolls spaced from said spool and adapted to frictionally grip line from said spool, a driving connection between said spool and one of said rolls, the other of said rolls constituting an idler pivotally mounted with respect to said driven roll, operating mechanism for said spool including a gear train, said gear train comprising a driving gear and a driven gear movable axially with respect thereto, clutch mechanism between said gear train and spool normally engaged and disengaged by said movable gear, spring means for normally holding said clutch in disengaged relation whereby said spool is rotatable free from said operating mechanism, means frictionally associated with said driving gear for controlling operation of said last-named means and means operated by said means fric tionally associated with said driving gear for moving said idler roll to release said line when said clutch is engaged.

11. In a fishing reel, the combination of a frame, a spool operatively mounted for rotation in said frame, a line conveyor comprising opposed rolls spaced from said spool and adapted to frictionally grip line from said spool, a driving connection between said spool and one of said rolls, the other of said rolls constituting an idler pivotally mounted with respect to said driven roll, operating mechanism for said spool including a gear train, said ear train comprising a driving gear and a driven gear movable axially with respect thereto, clutch mechanism between said gear train and spool normally engaged and disengaged by said movable gear, spring means for normally holding said clutch in disengaged relation whereby said spool is rotatable free from said operating mechanism, means frictionally associated with said driving gear for controlling operation of said last-named means, a spring controlled lever arm operatively connected to said pivotal mounting, and said means frictionally associated with said driving gear having means for actuating said lever arm for moving said idler roll to release said line when said clutch is engaged.

12. In a fishing reel, the combination of a line conveyor comprising opposed rolls adapted to frictionally grip line from the spool of said reel, means for driving at least one of said rolls, and means responsive to the operation of said spool for retrieving line onto the same for moving one of said rolls with respect to the other to release said frictional engagement of the line by said rolls.

NOBLE A. NELSON. 

